New York Rangers
· 2026-07-03
The New York Rangers have made a series of moves to retool their roster, including acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Rangers traded the 26th- and 92nd-overall picks in the 2026 draft and a top-10 protected first-round pick in 2028 for Dorofeyev, who then signed a seven-year, $77 million contract extension.
The team also drafted defenseman Alberts Šmits with the fifth overall pick, opting for a more NHL-ready player over Chase Reid.
These moves indicate president and general manager Chris Drury's plan to add younger players who can contribute immediately, rather than undergoing a full rebuild like in 2018.
Drury's strategy is to build a competitive team while also considering the long-term health and well-being of players like Šmits.
The Rangers currently stand 16th in the Eastern Conference with a 34-39 record, on a W1 streak.
The team has also made other significant moves, including signing veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo and defenseman Marcus Pettersson, as well as forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand and Joe Veleno to one-year contracts.
The Rangers traded Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth, a move that was long rumored.
Drury's intentions are clear: to build a competitive team with a mix of veteran and young players, and the recent moves are a step in that direction.
The addition of Dorofeyev and Šmits brings new talent to the team, and the signings of Korpisalo, Pettersson, Bjorkstrand, and Veleno fill current roster holes.
The New York Rangers are looking to improve their standing and make a push for the playoffs, and these offseason moves are a key part of that effort.